By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Sep 28, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- For years, Major League Soccer supporters have been asking ourselves when our league will be on par with some of the great leagues in Europe. We envision the day that MLS is regularly producing World-class players and aspiring stars from all over ply their trade for teams like DC United or the Houston Dynamo.
The vast majority of MLS fans are well aware that it will be a very long time before this League is legitimately in the conversation with the legendary leagues of Europe. In terms of prestige, attendance, fanaticism and results, no one in their right mind is expecting MLS to close that gap anytime soon.
Right now, it's this Grown Man's Opinion, MLS needs to concentrate on being the best league in North America because the owner of the title is clearly La Liga de Futbol Mexicana. Anyone choosing MLS in that debate most certainly hasn't been paying attention to the CONCACAF Champions League or the Champions Cup as it was known in its previous installment. Since the Mexican sides started taking this competition seriously, only Costa Rica's Alajuelense (2004) and Saprissa (2005) have managed to take the trophy out of Mexico.
Though I've not seen anything to make me believe this will change in 2009, the Champions League matches of last week and those coming up this week might go a long way in determining which of the remaining MLS teams advance in the competition. Given the mixed results of last week and the potential for some very positive results this week, the MLS teams still remaining might be putting themselves in a position for the knock out stages... and a chance to close the gap on their Mexican counterparts.Last week started off well enough for MLS. The Houston Dynamo absolutely pounded Arabe Unido, scoring early and often against a Unido side that was reduced to ten men with about a half an hour to go. It's been said that titles are won not by always beating the top sides in the competition but, rather, by dominating the weaker ones. Houston seemed to take that to heart.
The week ended with DC United beating Marathon at RFK from start to finish, avenging a 3-1 loss with a 3-0 shutout. Sure, Marathon had a ridiculous time just getting to RFK amid the political troubles at home, but I return to that previous point about dominating.
It was the middle game that was so frustrating for MLS fans. As fantastic a match Columbus played against Cruz Azul, especially in the first-half, Crzul Azul was that much better. In fact, they were phenomenal in that half. Their passing and movement off the ball, the creativity and vision demonstrated to create both goals... this was soccer at a higher level. The 2-0 lead they took into the half - and which ultimately provided the winning margin - was well deserved. Columbus was more ambitious, more aggressive, and was basically one extraordinary goal keeping clinic by Yosgart Gutiérrez away from getting a result.
In sports we call that not quite good enough. That's been the way it's gone for MLS teams in this competition. No matter how well they play, the Mexican sides are always just an extra step better when they need to be. It's why they've dominated this competition and, moreover, why MLS teams have such poor records against them, especially in Mexico.
Now it would be easy to conclude that the quality of Mexican club soccer is simply superior to that of MLS. If you believe that you could certainly point to the results to back up that assertion. Cruz Azul finished dead last in the Mexican Clausura this year and they just beat the reigning MLS champions by an aggregate of 7-0 over two games.
Easy enough point to make, but that's too simple an answer for this Grown Man, one that doesn't take into account the lack of depth and financial resources MLS teams have relative to their Mexican counterparts. Any team aspiring to domestic AND international success will have to rely on a deep roster with players who can step in at any time and contribute.
Due to the relative youth of the league and the financial constraints, most MLS sides aren't there yet. It puts the League's teams at a disadvantage when it comes down to getting results late in the group stages while pushing for the playoffs in MLS.
So now what? DC has to shrug aside an awful result in MLS play against San Jose (San Jose?!?!?!? At home?!?!?!?) and take advantage of the points offered up by Trini whipping boys San Juan Jabloteh. A win will solidify their hold on second place. Columbus scored an impressive win over the Galaxy this weekend, but now face a Saprissa side that eked out an equalizer in the dying seconds against the Puerto Rico Islanders.
The big match will be in Houston where the Dynamo "welcome" Pachuca, who they trail by two points in the group standings. The lack of depth might not be as big a factor in this one. Houston hasn't played an MLS match since a 3-2 win over RSL on the 19th.
Positive results for the MLS sides this week won't automatically lessen the gulf between MLS and the MFL. It's simply a step towards proving a bigger point that MLS needs to make.
One way to demonstrate how good your league is by the success it has outside of it. Right now, the MFL's got it. The MLS teams remaining in the Champions League should be looking for that next opportunity for meaningful games against Mexican clubs.
So instead of worrying about Europe, let's worry about our own backyard and take care of business here. International success has to start locally. Until this League consistently challenges for titles in this region, we still have everything to prove.
Andrew Dixon is a soccer writer based in Miami and a weekly columnist for USSoccerPlayers. Contact him at: golnoir@golnoir.net
